Odyssey Opera's "Henry VIII": And Then There Were None

The Cast of "Henry VIII"
(photo: Kathy Wittman)

The opera Henry VIII by Camille Saint-Saens, lesser known and less often performed than his 1877 Samson et Dalila (but more than his remaining eight other operas), with Libretto by Leonce Detroyat and Armand Silvestre, was presented, for one performance only, at Jordan Hall by Odyssey Opera. As it restored almost an hour of traditional cuts, this may be considered its world premiere, given in four acts (with two intermissions) for a total length of four and a half hours, in French with English surtitles (which took a while to function). Conducted by Odyssey Opera's Artistic Director Gil Rose, leading the Odyssey Opera Chorus and Orchestra, it was one for the history books.

Michael Chioldi as "Henry VIII"
(photo: Kathy Wittman)

True to those history books, the opera takes place in London from 1521-1536, during the reign of Henry VIII (Michael Chioldi) while he is married to the Queen, Catherine of Aragon (Ellie Dehn), as he eyes the ambitious young lady-in-waiting Anne Boleyn (Hilary Ginther). The Spanish Ambassador, Don Gomez (Yeghishe Manucharyan), confesses to Le duc de Norfolk (David Kravitz, a last minute replacement) that he is in love with Anne, and entrusts her love letter she sent him, to his confidante the Queen. The Queen's moral right and Anne's unconcealed motives are explored, followed by a ballet. Seven short scenes concern Henry and the Papal Legate Cardinal Campeggio (Kevin Deas) as well as Cranmore, Archbishop of Canterbury (David Cushing), Le comte de Surrey (Matthew DiBattista), Lady Clarence (Erin Merceruio Nelson) and the Garter of Arms (Jeremy Ayers Fisher). The judges declare Henry and Catherine's marriage to be null and illegitimate, clearing the path for Henry to pursue Anne. And there is that letter. As she lays dying, Catherine throws it into the fireplace.

Ellie Dehn in "Henry VIII"
(photo: Kathy Wittman)

True to those history books, the opera takes place in London from 1521-1536, during the reign of Henry VIII (Michael Chioldi) while he is married to the Queen, Catherine of Aragon (Ellie Dehn), as he eyes the ambitious young lady-in-waiting Anne Boleyn (Hilary Ginther). The Spanish Ambassador, Don Gomez (Yeghishe Manucharyan), confesses to Le duc de Norfolk (David Kravitz, a last minute replacement) that he is in love with Anne, and entrusts her love letter she sent him, to his confidante the Queen. The Queen's moral right and Anne's unconcealed motives are explored, followed by a ballet. Seven short scenes concern Henry and the Papal Legate Cardinal Campeggio (Kevin Deas) as well as Cranmore, Archbishop of Canterbury (David Cushing), Le comte de Surrey (Matthew DiBattista), Lady Clarence (Erin Merceruio Nelson) and the Garter of Arms (Jeremy Ayers Fisher). The judges declare Henry and Catherine's marriage to be null and illegitimate, clearing the path for Henry to pursue Anne. And there is that letter. As she lays dying, Catherine throws it into the fireplace.

Hilary Ginther in "Henry VIII"
(photo: Kathy Wittman)

For the most part the libretto follows familiar history (there was no actual confrontation between Catherine and Anne, for example) so it made it possible to focus on the lovely score and the lively singing. Chioldi was especially impressive in the title role, matched by his first queen in the person of the exquisitely-voiced Dehn and the intensity of his second queen, Ginther. Also making a solid impression was Deas in a relatively small role, and Manucharyan in a larger one. The Odyssey Opera Orchestra (especially in the ballet scene) and Chorus were, as always, outstanding. The ballet music was anticlimactic dramatically speaking, and might have been more suitable as a curtain-raiser, allowing the second of four acts to end with its magnificent septet.

 

It was a thrilling (if buttocks-challenging) opportunity to experience this work in its entirety, for the first time ever, and yet another proof (as though one needed one) of the vital presence of Odyssey Opera in our musical community.